Eyewash container-applicator



' 1958 G. D. KNIGHT 2,847,010

EYEWASH CONTAINER-*APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 27, 1955 INVENTOR. GEORGE D. KNIGHT B Y mowfll w EYEWASH 'CONTAINER-APPLICATOR George D. Knight, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of one-tenth of The Gadget-Of-The-Month (llnb, Inc, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 27, 1955, Serial No. 555,435

4 Claims. (Cl. 128249) This invention relates to bottles and containers for liquid medicated preparations, and more particularly to an eyecup type of applicator which serves also as a container for sterile solutions employed in various ophthalmic treatments.

In the past various cleansing solutions for the eyes have been dispensed in conventional glass bottles and are in most cases applied by pouring a small quantity into an eyecup and applying it therewith to the eyes. A majority of family medicine cabinets and factory first aid cabinets contain solutions and cups for this purpose. Experience demonstrates, however, that most serious eye damage results from specks of dust or spray in factory containing acid or alkaline contents requiring an immediate neutralizing wash. In this type of eye damage immediate first aid can save the eye from permanent damage. Then we have the eye irritations caused from specks, fumes, smoke, etc., which are first noticed far from the medicine chest. Its the neutralizer in the container that counts.

Even in the home, with the supplies on hand, bathing the eyes is a clumsy procedure and something to be avoided as much as possible. The eye cup must be thoroughly cleansed before use, and one is never quite sure whether the liquid in the bottom of the eyewash bottle has become ineifective, or even contaminated, after.

months on the cabinet shelf between the Lysol and the iodine.

The present invention was made with the foregoing considerations in mind and can be said to have a number of important objectives.

One important object of my invention is the provision of a composite container which will serve both as a dispensing vessel for medicated solutions and as an ophthalmic applicator of the liquid contained therein.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a container of the character described which is provided with transparent surface areas through which the liquid contained therein may be inspected.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a container of the character described being adapted with a secondary inner cavity containing a reserve supply of fluid which will remain substantially uncontaminated by the use of the first portion of fluid,

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of a container of the nature described having closure means adapted to maintain the contents in a sterile, uncontaminated state, and to protect also the periphery of the applicator portion of the vessel which comes in contact with the skin of the patient adjacent the eye being treated.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a container having closure means of the character described and which is easily and quickly removable when use of the contents is desired.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of a container-applicator of the general character described which is adapted for the preheating of the Zfliifllh Patented Aug. 1.2, 1958 contents by immersion in warm water before application and which is sufficiently small to be easily carried when traveling or included in first aid kits.

in brief, my invention includes a container in which the apertured upper portion is conformed substantially in the manner of a conventional eye cup, and is extended therebelow in a basal stern portion adapted to hold at least as much fluid as the cup portion. The open top of the cup is securely sealed with a layer of moisture impervious plastic film which is carried well down around the rounded edge of the cup and fitted with a circumferential tearing strip to facilitate removal of the cover.

Additional important objects of my invention will be apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment and certain variations thereof when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the container-applicator of my invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2 and shown from the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3-A is a fragmentary enlargement of the upper corner of the device taken in the limited area indicated by the arrows 3-A in Figure 3, to show the manner in which the tearing tape is aifixed.

Figure 4- is a diagrammatic view showing a vertical transverse section taken along the line 44 in Figure 2 and shown as it would appear from the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the same device and revealing the manner in which the Pliofilm cover is removed by means of the tear strip;

Figure 6 is a somewhat enlarged side elevational view of one variation of the embodiment seen in the preceding figures; and,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic transverse vertical section taken along the line 77 in Figure 6 as seen from the direction of the arrows.

Reference is again made to Figure 1 in which the numeral 10 designates the complete device made in accordance with my invention including the cup portion 11, the reservoir area 12, the reinforced rim 13 of the cup 11 covered by the Pliofilm 14 which is carried downwardly of the rim 13 to the line 15 indicated in Figures 1 and 3-A to cover the tearing strip 16.

The method of installation of the tearing strip 16 will be better understood by reference to the fragmentary enlargementof a portion of Figure 3 shown in Figure 3-A in which the tape is shown to completely encircle the bowl 11, with its underportion 17 being actually overlapped by the outwardly extended portion of tape seen at 16, with the Pliofilm sealing material 14 adhering tightly to the cup 11 above and below the tape 16-17. Thus, when the end 16 is drawn outwardly, the cover 14 is severed from the bonded area adjacent line 15 and may be readily removed from the aperture, as indicated in Figure 5.

A variation of the device previously described is shown slightly enlarged in size at 18 in Figure 6. In this form, the composite container and dispenser has an upper cup portion 19 which diminishes in sizes to a stem portion 20 below which it is flared outwardly into a generally circular basal reservoir section 21 by means of which the cup may be erectly positioned on a table or other horizontal surface during the course of its use.

In the form shown in Figure 6, and in transverse section in Figure 7, the device is conformed of a generally rigid substance such as glass and is provided with a generally rounded rim member 22 and fitted with a rigid metallic or plastic cover 23. This conformation is particularly effective to isolate the reserve fluid contained in the reservoir 21 from that contained in the cup portion 19, the latter being poured out quickly after use and the reserve fluid in the reservoir 21 is then allowed to trickle through the restricted opening of the stem 20 to refill the cup while the rim 22 thereof is held tightly against the eye.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur'to those skilled in the art after a careful study hereof. All such, properly within the basic spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated and claimed herein- The exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component parts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modified substantially within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein are exemplary only,

and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claims only, with due consideration for the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:

1. A container for fluids, comprising: a variform generally rigid hollow main body including a basal section of generally circular conformation, a stem section of reduced diameter communicating with an opening upwardly from said basal section, and a cup section extending upwardly from said stem section and having an ovular aperture at the top thereof, the edge of said cup section around said ovular aperture being lipped and rounded to provide a laterally extended ridge around the circumference thereof, said aperture of said cup section being provided with closure means comprising; a thin sheet of water resistant plastic film tightly disposed across said aperture and downwardly curvedly disposed on said outwardly extended ridge thereof and adhesively attached 4 to the exterior surface of said cup section below the top edge thereof.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 including a circumferential tearing band disposed below said ridge between said thin sheet of plastic film and said exterior surface of said cup section, one end of said tearing band being extended outwardly of said film adjacent the area of adhesive attachment.

3. A container for fluids, comprising: a variform hollow body provided with a cup section at the top thereof having an ovular aperture at the top thereof, the edge of said cup section around said ovular aperture being lipped and rounded to provide a laterally extended ridge around the circumference thereof, the upwardly disposed edge of said ovular aperture of said cup section lying between the most widely spaced points thereon, in an arcuate plane convexly disposed between said points, said aperture of said cup section provided with closure means comprising; a thin sheet of water resistant plastic film tightly disposed across said aperture and downwardly curvedly disposed on said outwardly extended ridge thereof and adhesively attached to the exterior surface of said cup section below the top edge thereof.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 including a circumferential tearing band disposed below said ridge between said thin sheet of plastic film and said exterior surface of said cup section, one end of said tearing band being extended outwardly of said film adjacent the area of adhesive attachment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,231,112 Conner Feb. 11, 1941 2,375,636 Eddins May 8, 1945 2,585,264 Mock Feb. 12, 1952 2,767,711 Ernst Oct. 23; 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,118 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1903 203,920 Switzerland July 1, 1939 

